Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Crunch reached the Calder Cup finals on the ice last year and reaped the benefits from that performance in the stands this season.

Despite not making the playoffs this year and being out of the race for several weeks, the Crunch averaged a paid crowd of 5,574 fans per home date. That's the fourth-highest total in the 20-year history of the team and the most since the 1996-97 season.

The figure also placed the team 14th in the 30-team AHL. Syracuse played to 90 percent capacity this season, behind only San Antonio (100-plus), St. John's (100), Charlotte (94) and Hershey (92). Utica was sixth at 89 percent.

Year

Attendance

Season Result

1995-96

5,948

Lost in round 3

1994-95

5,888

Out of Playoffs

1996-97

5,809

Lost in round 1

2013-14

5,589

Out of Playoffs

2004-05

5,504

Out of Playoffs

1997-98

5,464

Lost in round 1

2007-08

5,442

Lost in round 2

2005-06

5,420

Lost in round 1

2012-13

5,399

Lost in Finals

2001-02

5,305

Lost in round 2

2009-10

5,294

Out of Playoffs

2003-04

5,286

Lost in round 1

2006-07

5,249

Out of Playoffs

2011-12

5,246

Lost in round 1

2008-09

5,211

Out of Playoffs

2000-01

5,169

Lost in round 1

2010-11

5,154

Out of Playoffs

2002-03

5,113

Out of Playoffs

1998-99

5,109

Out of Playoffs

1999-00

5,049

Lost in round 1

Syracuse's total is a little skewed because it played one "home'' game at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., against the Capitals affiliate, Hershey. That game pulled in 15,763.

If you take away that game, the Crunch still averaged 5,298 fans per home game in the War Memorial, which would rank it 11th in team history despite no postseason promise for the last third of the season.

The reason for the strong showing at the gate is twofold. First, the Crunch's deep run into the playoffs created hope for a repeat performance this year among diehards and lured casual fans caught up in the excitement.

"I think a big part was the playoff run last year, introducing non-fans to the brand,'' said Crunch owner Howard Dolgon. ""Those (new fans) now become an ambassador for our product. I think it will keep increasing. Our job is to get the non-hockey fan in the building. We work hard to do that.''

This carryover affect of a playoff run is common. In 1995-96, Syracuse reached the Calder Cup semis. The next year it averaged 5,809 fans per game, its third-highest total ever.

The reverse is also true. The nadir of the Crunch's existence came in 1998-99, when it won 18 games. The next season the team pulled in an average of 5,049, its lowest ever.

There is also the general optimism/novelty factor. Syracuse's highest per-season attendance game in 1995-96, 5,948, followed by 1994-95, at 5,888. Those are the franchise's first two seasons.

A similar reboot helped the team last year. That was the first season Syracuse affiliated with Tampa Bay after a dismal two years with Anaheim. That change alone, combined with the improved quality of play, was worth an average of 5,399 fans per game. The year before, Syracuse's second with the Ducks, Syracuse averaged 5,246.

Dolgon said he didn't think Syracuse's non-playoff season this year will dent the team's attendance in 2014-15 because it played hard and entertaining hockey during a meaningless stretch drive.

"The team played very well after we were eliminated. The people liked the product,'' Dolgon said. "I think we've had the second-best thing happen (besides making the playoffs). We had a competitive team that played hard, a young team that's built for success next year.''

The Crunch raised ticket prices entering this season but Dolgon said he is "leaning toward'' keeping them the same for 2014-15.